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HR managers championing flexible working arrangements in their workplaces could boost staff morale and business bottom lines by allowing employees to work at home – for less pay.

Over half of Australians are prepared to drop their salary by up to 20 per cent in order to work from home, with a further 22 per cent prepared to take a hit of up to 10 per cent for this same privilege, according to a recent poll by recruiting experts Hays.

In the poll of 8,654 people, just 23 per cent said they are happy to commute if it means more money.

“Australia’s hard work culture sees us regularly featured in the list of countries with the longest working weeks in the world,” says Nick Deligiannis, Managing Director of Hays in Australia & New Zealand.

“Given this it isn’t surprising that Aussies want to work flexibly in order to improve their work-life balance, even if it means taking a pay cut,” Deligiannis says.

He says avoiding the commute to work could reduce stress and improve employee mental and physical wellbeing.

“For others working from home, even one or two days a week, can be the make or break of being able to stay in their job,” he said.

In a time where HR professionals are aware that one of the key retention strategies of talented employees includes emphasis on job satisfaction and work-life balance, allowing staff to work from home could save the company talent and money.

Employers can reap the benefits of offering work from home options to staff, Deligiannis says.
“From an employer’s perspective staff who work from home are more productive, satisfied and motivated to do their best,” he says.

“They also offer a cost saving because they don’t take up a desk in the office.”